Teachers must master a variety of knowledge and skills and be flexible in the application of these skills and knowledge in the classroom because students have different characteristics also learning situations and approaches change from time to time.
Important knowledge teachers must possess includes:
1)Subject matter competence
Effective and competent teachers should have knowledge and a deep understanding of the subjects they teach. They should be knowledgeable about the content, concepts, theories, facts,terms and methodologies relevant to their subject area. Also,the teacher should be knowledgeable about organizing ideas, ways of thinking and arguing, patterns of change within a discipline, beliefs about a discipline and the ability to carry ideas from one discipline to another.
Also, teachers should know how to connect the subject matter they are teaching to students’ environment so as to make the subject matter more relevant to students.
2)Appropriate instructional strategies and methods
Effective and competent teachers should have the knowledge of effective teaching strategies and instructional methods to use and how to use them, in what situations to use them and to which learners to use such instructional methods in teaching. Also, they should understand how to plan lessons, create learning objectives, design assessments, and differentiate instructions to meet the diverse needs of their students.
Examples of instructional strategies includes:
The constructivist strategy this is a learner centred approach which will make students actively participate in constructing their knowledge and understanding with guidance from the teacher. It includes activities such as asking questions to students, group discussions and project work. Such activities make the student actively engaged in the construction and creation of knowledge in learning.
The direct instruction strategy this is a teacher centred approach which will make the teacher direct and control and set learning expectations for students. It includes activities such as lecturing. Such activities help students to get the relevant information directly from the teacher because the teacher will focus more on the important issues which are significant to students and thus not overwhelming students with insignificant information in learning.
Effective and competent teachers should have the knowledge and understanding of how to create inclusive education practices,strategies and instruction materials appropriate for their students learning process according to the levels of education of the learners Effective teachers understand and have the knowledge on how to use appropriate teaching practice by considering the age, skills and abilities of the learners because they understand developmental progressions of children and hence, they are able to use teaching practices that are optimal for each child. Example a kindergarten school teacher can use songs to teach his or her students to count numbers.Hence a competent teacher has the knowledge on which instructional strategy to use based on the situation in the class, learning needs,interests of the students,nature of the content or topic taught and nature of the learners.
3)Goal setting and instructional planning.
Effective teachers should have the knowledge on how to set SMART goals for their teaching and organize plans and learning activities for reaching those SMART goals.
Among important goals of learning set by teachers is developing necessary and important skills and competence to students. This can be easily achieved by teachers by planning learning activities which will make students easily develop such skills and competences.
Effective teachers should have the knowledge on how to create and set instructional plans by considering the kinds of information, models and inquiry opportunities.
4)Working effectively with students from diverse backgrounds.
Effective teachers must be knowledgeable about cultural diversity and possess the skills to create inclusive classrooms where students from diverse backgrounds feel valued and respected. They should work to ensure equitable opportunities for all students and be sensitive to their needs.
They should encourage students to have positive personal contact and relationship with other students of diverse backgrounds and create settings in which such relationships and creations can occur by creating discussion groups of students from diverse backgrounds.
5)Educational Technology
In today’s digital age, teachers should be familiar with educational technology tools and resources that can enhance teaching and learning. This means teachers should know the combined use of computer hardware, software, and educational theory and practice to facilitate learning.This includes using technology for instructional delivery, multimedia resources, online learning platforms, and digital assessment tools.
Application of technology in teaching helps teachers make learning fun and interesting to students.Also, proper use of technology helps teachers teach complex topics and ideas easily to students.
These are among important areas of knowledge that teachers should possess. Effective teaching requires a combination of subject matter competence, appropriate instructional strategies and methods,goal setting and instructional planning knowledge,educational technology knowledge and an understanding and collaboration with students of diverse needs and backgrounds.
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